| Project | NCSA SuperWeb for Education |
| Contact | Raul Zaritsky |
| raulzar@insightbb.com | |
| URL | http://gse.gmu.edu/research/de/raul/index.htm |
| Project description | This project attempts to provide sense making activities around the advanced NCSA science teams utilizing computational modeling and data mining. The project uses a set of cognitive tools from the NSCA Video Annotation Tool, to AgentSheets, Model-It and Stella to provide authentic scaled versions of the engines of change underlying science models. The first level allows learners to view quick time movies of science models and make explicit their implicit knowledge of the process they view. The second level makes available via the web and simple modeling tools (AgentSheets tm) a version of the science model that can be run and manipulated. A third level allows learners to modify and add factors to our existing models in slightly more complex modeling packages (AgentSheets tm and Model-It tm) and the fourth level provides models to construct utilizing increasingly complex modeling packages (AgentSheets tm, Model-It tm, and Stella tm).The material is arranged for the teachers along with links to the national standards that are addressed and the curricular links to further resources. All models start with driving questions and provide both background to the science as well as step by step student handouts. This project is in an Alpha stage with classroom tests planed for the Winter of 1998.The link is http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Edu/icm/ |
| Theoretical background | The structure of this work is derived from an attempt to create the steps of an authentic cognitive apprenticeship structure in science practice while at the same time scaling the science concepts into various modeling packages. The work is being accomplished in consulation with Bruce Hannon of the Uni of Illinois who has written various books on dynamic modeling using Stella. The classroom and web materials are structured based upon the CoVis work at Northwestern University and further work done here at NCSA.The underlying technology is being created from NCSA technology including those for web-based collaboration, expecially Tango and Habanero. The particular instantiation of the web materials will be created in NetLearning Place, NCSA technology being developed further by Barbara O'Keefe and others at the University of Illinois. Concepts underlying this structure have come from the KIE project and the CSILE project, as well as experience with the CoVis Collaboratory Notebook. Problems and solutions in the creation of our many modeling cases are created so as to maximize cognitive flexibility. This work is informed by ongoing collaboration with Rand Spiro. |
| Challenges | The challenge of scaling the science such that it both remains authentic and accessible by new learners is the most demanding challenge. Along with Rand Spiro, we am attempting to derive some principles for the creation of these scaled models from the more advanced science concepts. As the infrastructure for the presentation via the web continues to be a cutting edge component of all NCSA projects, along with Beau Fly Jones we are attempting to develop a set of design principles for the next version of the web for education. With usual modesty, we have come to call these concepts the NCSA SuperWeb for Education. Links to our papers about this concept are provided. |
| Partnership | NCSA's education division provides an opportunity to team with leading edge scientists as well as U of I faculty to create visualization and educational tools addressing the six main themes of advanced research at NCSA. These themes are:CosmologyNanomaterialsMolecular BiologyEnvironmental HydrologyChemical EngineeringScientific InstrumentationFurther the education division is interested in partnering on the following themesa- Leading edge technology for educationb- Prototyping methodologies for educational technology and interventionsc- Undergraduate, K-12 and graduate curricular advances In addition we have a major museum base effort called RiverWeb where we can use partners.Further partnerships to develop the infrastructure tools for collaboration and visualization are encouraged. The division head of the NCSA Education division is Prof. Frank Rusch, who can be reached at frusch@ncsa.uiuc.edu. |